Ouch.
This one pretty much laid bare the two gigantic problems the Wolves have (above and beyond the little ones): free throw disparity and perimeter shooting. The Lakers went 20-25 from the charity stripe, led by Kobe Bryant's 13-13 effort. The Wolves...well, they went 10-13. The Wolves also went 6-19 from distance while clanking all sorts of 12-15 foot jumpers off every square inch of the rim. You simply cannot shoot 40% from the floor and get out free-throwed by 10 and expect to be competitive.
Getting to the remaining four factors, the Wolves were beat as soundly as they have been all year by a Laker squad on the last game of a 9-game road trip. They were out rebounded, had more turnovers, and, as mentioned before, were outshot from the field and the line. While there is some room to complain about the preferential treatment given to a Mr. Bryant by the men in stripes, it isn't enough to remove one's focus from the fact that our beloved Puppies were beat. the. hell. down.
I'll say it again: poor shooting from the field (especially the perimeter) and the line are absolutely killing this squad. Forget point play. Forget Al Jefferson playing at the 5. This team is done in time and time again by a failure to be able to hit from outside and by an overwhelming negative disparity at the free throw line.
Moving on...It's official, this Randy Foye business at the point is getting frustrating. The second Sebastian Telfair left the court, the Lakers put on the full-court press and the Wolves were unable to swiftly move the ball up court, they had no flow to the offense, no threat of penetration, they threw clueless fast-break passes, and they were repeatedly burned on high screens that opened up countless three point attempts. Also, the next time Foye dribbles into a contested jumper 6 inches inside the three point arc, I’m going to throw my TV out the window.
Randy ended the night shooting 6-16 from the field. He went 4-7 from distance, leaving him 2-9 inside the arc. Granted, this gives him an eFG of 50%, but considering the amount of garbage time and the shot selection exhibited by the point-in-waiting, it was yet another disappointing effort.
Misc:
Sometime during the 3rd quarter, I believe I heard Jim Peterson say that Antoine Walker used to be a high riser? I'm a strong believer in multiple dimensions but I doubt J Pete has the insight to bridge the space-time continuum. In what universe did this Flying Toine exist? J-Petedinger's Cat I suppose.
Do the Wolves still need to hawk $40 2 game packs with the Celtics and Mavs? As much as I may fancy a Big Al T-Shirt, I don’t think I want a ticket to a game that already happened. Perhaps J Pete's knowledge concerning alternate realities can be parlayed into some sort of time traveling promotional package.
J-Pete also said that it was very important for Randy Foye to get some experience on the court down the stretch. Seriously. This was with Kobe Karl on the court…as big an F-U if there ever was one. Mr. Karl has attempted all of 10 shots this year and judging by his mechanics, that’s probably not by mistake. At least Foye got some experience against Mr. Karl. Whoah!!! There goes an alley-oop by young Mr. Karl!!! The F-U continues to grow.
Perhaps the biggest downer of the night (as if Kobe Frickin’ Karl wasn’t enough) was watching the commercial-free post game on-court demonstration of Jim Pete and the triple threat position. According to Jim Pete, Wolves players may be unfamiliar with the most basic fundamental in offensive basketball. Yes, it’s almost enough to make your eyes bleed.
Speaking of eye-bleeding, Dallas Mavs fans were saved from bloody oculitis by the swift moving personnel defense of Devean George, who made the biggest block of his career—scuttling a lopsided deal that would have sent a tremendous young point, $11 million in expiring contracts, and 2 draft picks to the Nets for a 35 year old guard who can’t shoot and who hasn’t been able to efficiently run New Jersey’s lagging offense. Mr. George, Maverick Nation salutes you. You may have pissed off a dancing computer geek billionaire, but the rest of us thank you from the bottom of our little hearts.
Until later...
